Influence of Plant Growth Regulators on Fruit Quality of Papaya (Carica papaya L.)

The experiment entitled, ”Influence of plant growth regulators on fruit quality of papaya (Carica papaya L.)” was conducted at Commercial Fruit Nursery, College of Horticulture, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. The study was undertaken with objective to study the effect of different plant growth regulators on fruit quality of papaya and to findout the suitable plant growth regulator for better fruit quality of papaya. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design. The treatments consisted of four levels of GA₃ (50, 100, 150 and 200 ppm), four levels of NAA (50, 100, 150 and 200 ppm), four levels of TIBA (50, 100, 150 and 200 ppm) and one control. Experimental evidences point out that the foliar application of growth regulators was quite effective in influencing various physico-chemical parameters of papaya fruits. Most of papaya fruit did not show very much variation regarding their flesh colour. Gibberellic acid treatments increased the total sugars and reducing sugars content, sugar acid ratio. Whereas minimum values of these characters associated with control treatment. In addition, reduction in acid content was recorded in GA₃ treated plants while it was highest in control. However, TSS and non-reducing sugars were recorded maximum in treatment application of TIBA. NAA treated plants was also found effective in improving TSS, total and reducing sugars and reducing acidity of papaya. One the basis of present investigation, it could be said that the foliar of plant growth regulators worthwhile for marketable fruits of better quality.